Return to Play Protocols for Tennis Clubs, Players and Coaches - Effective from May 10th, 2021
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Return to Play Protocols for Tennis Clubs, Players and Coaches Effective from May 10th, 2021 Version 1.2 Updated 5th May 2021 Republic of Ireland
Tennis Ireland
Return to Play
Introduction
The COVID-19 pandemic has presented unprecedented challenges to our country and our sport. The pandemic
is not over, and the disease has continued to evolve and generate new challenges for us all.
While the various vaccines and their delivery provide a clear pathway for us, we must continue to be mindful of
the risks involved in everyday life and the need to:
• wash hands properly and often
• practice social distancing
• cover coughs and sneezes
We must continue to be agile and flexible in our response while recognising that one year on, imposing and
adhering to restrictions places an enormous burden on us all.
This document references the Irish Government document, COVID-19 Resilience and Recovery 2021: The Path
Ahead, which outlines the protocols that should be implemented in clubs during this level of reopening society
during COVID-19.
We have learned a lot over the last 12 months The Republic of Ireland as a country is moving to
and these learnings are informing our ongoing reopen society once again.
approach:
To this end, a new plan, COVID-19 Resilience
O The power to control the level of and Recovery 2021: The Path Ahead has been
transmission is in our hands — individually developed and released by the Government to
and collectively help us to go about our daily lives as much as
O People in Ireland and within our sport are possible, while managing the behaviour of the
willing to follow public health advice to virus.
protect themselves and others
The plan recognises the need for society and
O Cooperation and solidarity across our sport is
business to be allowed to reopen albeit with
vital if this disease is to be contained
restrictions.
O No single preventative measure is adequate
to control virus transmission — what matters The Government’s strategy, in line with the
is a combination public health advice, is suppression.
O There is an ongoing need to minimise the
risk of cases/clusters and respond decisively In response to the Government’s plan our
when new threats/clusters emerge team, in consultation with Sport Ireland and the
O If the disease spreads in the community, Department of Sport Return to Sport Expert
it will have the greatest impact on the Group have developed a framework of protocols
vulnerable and this will impact our members, that are specific to Tennis in the Republic of
many of whom are of an older age profile Ireland.
O Rapid identification and contact tracing of
Please note that the new protocols are due to
new cases is central to the government’s
come into effect from May 10th. Any further
response
updates will be communicated to clubs directly.
1 Return to Play Protocols for Republic of Ireland Version 1.2Tennis Ireland
Clubs and their members must make themselves better understand, anticipate, and prepare for and
aware of and implement the measures contained implement the measures to prevent an escalation
within the framework to help safeguard staff and in the transmission of the disease.
members. This will allow all of us to play safely
and keep our communities safe while the threat Our measures, procedures and timings are under
of COVID-19 exists. constant review and updated as advice from
government, health authorities and governing
This document is designed to allow individuals, bodies evolves in line with the gradual lifting of
families, coaches, and club administrators to social restrictions.
Safe every step of the way
1. Club Committee 5. Clubhouse Facilities 9. Getting Home Safely
2. Club Access 6. To the Courts 10. Dealing with a
3. Booking & Arrival 7. On Court - Playing suspected case
4. Check-in Protocol 8. On Court - Coaching
This guide has been updated in
consultation with medical experts
and in line with Government
Guidelines.
These measures should be in place
seven days a week and until further
notice.
Key Changes Club
The key amendments from the Educated
previous version of this document are:
Members
O Doubles play involving players from and
different households is allowed from Robust
BOOK
May 10th.
Procedures
O Adult coaching can be delivered in
pods of 6 players per court with 4
players on court at any one time from
May 10th.
O The restriction on intercounty travel
will be removed from May 10th.
O Visitors can play at the club subject
to approval of the Club Committee.
Contact details for visiting players must
be collected for contact tracing
purposes.
2 Return to Play Protocols for Republic of Ireland Version 1.2Tennis Ireland
1. Club Covid-19 Committee
As per last year and in case of any committee/ O Professional sports people and
personnel changes, Tennis Clubs should appoint those who participate within professional
an assigned COVID-19 Officer and committee competition.
responsible for managing issues and queries O A member of a high-performance team
relating to the Covid-19 pandemic. This funded by Tennis Ireland e.g., Davis and Fed
committee should: Cup, Team Ireland programme recipients.
O Those who compete at major international
O Should check with their insurers if any events including European and World
amendments to their policies are required to Champions, Olympic and Paralympic Games,
cover Covid19 issues. Grand Slam, ATP, WTA, ITF Men / Women’s
O Ensure they review and that the club can World Tour.
comply with all the protocols outlined before O Nationally ranked Junior Players are not
reopening their club considered to be High Performance players
O Ensure that the club and its members adhere
to HSE / Public Health advice in all cases. 2. Club Access
O Ensure that sufficient HSE Covid-19 O Access to the clubhouse should be limited to
information Posters are in place staff / committee members and only for
O Operate a court booking system that, if emergency access by players or to use toilet
possible, allows for staggered play and facilities. Face masks must be worn when
perhaps allow 10 minutes between booking indoors.
O Courts can be accessed by members and, if
slots for players to exit and enter without
interaction. If this cannot be done it would approved by the club, visitors.
O A parent/guardian must accompany any
be advisable that players understand the
need for social distancing while entering and player under 16 years unless the club
exiting the courts and wait in a designated provide supervision.
waiting area. O Players must not be subject to a quarantine
O Ensure that the club maintains accurate restriction as per the Department of Foreign
records of who is playing and when. This Affairs Travel protocols. For more
should include all persons on court and information visit
not just the one making the booking. This https://www.dfa.ie/travel/travel-
must be carried out for coaching sessions as advice/coronavirus/general-covid-19-
well, and in the case that a parent/guardian travel-advisory/
is present in the club that must also be O Players must not have been around
recorded. This will help with contact tracing if someone with symptoms of Covid-19 in
necessary. the last 10 days
O Ensure that tournaments and events are O Players must not be displaying COVID-19 symptoms
postponed during the current phase of O All Players must have a pre-reserved playing time
reopening but can allow internal Ladder
Note
and World Tennis Number activities to
take place. Those traveling to Ireland from any country not
deemed to be a “Category 2” state, must
O Be responsible for informing all members
quarantine at home, and only exit and play
of the Covid-19 guidelines and insist on full
once a negative or 'not detected' PCR test is
cooperation
taken 5 days following their arrival back in
O Ensure that the contact details for all Ireland.
members are up to date as this will assist
with contact tracing should it be necessary
O Listen to feedback and contact Tennis Ireland
if there are issues not covered under these
protocols
There are some exceptions that pertain to
High Performance Players and these are
defined as covering those who are:
3 Return to Play Protocols for Republic of Ireland Version 1.2Tennis Ireland
3. Booking and Arrival 4. Check-in and Club Shop Protocol
O Booking a court time in advance is advisable, O Two-metre queue markers should be in place
preferably via a court booking system, at any single-entry point whether at the
website, app, or phone. This will assist should clubhouse reception or at the entrance to
contact tracing be required subsequently. courts
O All players, including visitors, should ensure O Only one person at a time should be
the club has their up-to-date contact details permitted inside the reception area
(phone and email). O A two-metre exclusion zone should be in
O Singles and Doubles play is allowed from May place at the service desk and, if possible, a
10th. protection screen should be fitted.
O Indoor courts must remain closed with an O Club shops should only open in line with the
exception for designated High-Performance protocols for this sector
Players O Food and beverage items should not be
O All players, and not just the player making the available for consumption on the premises.
booking, should be included in the booking O Club vending machines should be placed out
notes. If there is a change to who is playing, of commission during this phase
it is advisable to make sure the booking is O Any Purchases should be paid for by
updated.
contactless card payment only
O Players should travel to the club alone, or
only with a member of the same household. 5. Clubhouse Facilities
There should be no carpooling between O Protocols for cleaning club facilities such
households.
as toilets should be in place prior to
O If travelling to the club via Public Transport, opening and during operation.
players should wear a mask, sanitise their O Clubhouse access should only be when
hands regularly throughout the journey and
necessary and be limited to the Club
socially distance from other passengers.
Reception if required to check in.
O Ample car parking spaces should be available O Toilets can be utilised but on a one in / one
to ensure social distancing. If players must
out basis.
park next to another car, they should wait
for the other person to exit or enter before
O Changing rooms should remain closed during
doing so themselves. this Phase of reopening
O Players should arrive at the court entrance
O Players must provide their own racquets and
no more than 5 minutes prior to the reserved equipment
playing time. It is important that players O Chairs should be removed from the reception
maintain social distancing and wait in a pre- area to prevent people congregating
designated waiting area that allows for social
distancing 6. To the Court
O Players should always observe social O Singles and doubles play with players from
distancing and resist the temptation to different households is allowed.
mingle O Courts that are side by side can be utilised.
O Locker rooms should remain closed during Players should enter the court one at a time
this phase. Players should arrive in Tennis Entrances / Gates to courts should remain
attire and change footwear at the car or at open, if safe to do so, perhaps tied back to
home prevent use of handles
O Players should sanitise their hands using O Rubbish bins should be removed, and all
dispensers provided at the entrance to the items brought on court should be taken
club and courts home afterwards.
O Players should head straight to their
designated court unless required to check-in
O Players should ensure that they utilise toilet
facilities in their own home prior to arriving
at the club.
4 Return to Play Protocols for Republic of Ireland Version 1.2Tennis Ireland
O Other court furniture should be removed O Coaches should ensure a player has
including scoreboards, chairs/benches, and registered their contact details with the clubs.
net winders. O As much as possible, coaches must try to
O Shoe cleaners should be removed adjust their schedules to stay on-site for the
O Any player(s) repeatedly not following the club minimum amount of time required.
directives should be asked to leave the club O Exercises that require continuous play are
O Nobody but the players should be allowed recommended.
on the court. There should be no spectators O Coaches should limit the number of tennis
present during this phase of reopening balls used and not use basket drills or feeding
O Parents supervising children should be during this phase
limited to one. Parents waiting for children O Coaches should limit the use of equipment
to finish playing or their coaching lesson such as cones, drop lines and targets.
must not congregate and be mindful of social O Do not let players manipulate the practice
distancing at all times equipment. Coaches should take charge of
picking up the balls.
7. On the Court - Playing
O A pod, up to a maximum of 6 players (Junior
O Physical distancing should be observed
or Adult) can be coached per court.
throughout the period of play, particularly
on change of ends and entering and exiting O A maximum of 4 players can operate on the
the court. Players should change ends at court at any one time while remaining in
opposite sides of the net. their own sections of the court with up to 2
other players rotating in and outas required.
O Players must refrain from handshakes and
high fives. O A pod of 8 players per court is allowable for
red ball activities, subject to social distancing
O Equipment such as towels, food, and drink
protocols being implemented
must not be exchanged between players.
Players should be encouraged to bring their O Players must remain in their own sections
own drinks and towels. of the court
O Players should avoid touching their face after O All activities are subject to strict social
handling a ball, racquet, or other equipment. distancing and those players not on court
must always maintain a clear 2m distance
O Players should ideally bring a small bottle of
from others.
hand sanitizer with them and keep it in their
pocket or bag for use.
9. Getting Home Safely
O Players should remain apart from other O Once play has finished players should leave
players when taking a break.
the premises promptly, sanitising their hands
O Caution is advised for those who intend to on the way out using a courtside dispenser.
engage in high intensity training following a O Restaurant and bars should remain closed
recovery from Covid-19. Individuals should
until restrictions are eased so there should
seek medical advice prior to a return to
be no congregating in these areas
playing / training.
O Clubs should make provision for thoroughly
8. On the Court – Coaching cleaning accessible areas and ensuring that
O Coaches should prepare and present a Risk all “touch areas” are cleaned thoroughly daily
Assessment document and get approval to O If a player becomes unwell after playing, they
coach from the Covid 19 Committee. should first contact their GP/HSE and then
O Coaching sessions should be booked with the inform their club. The club should contact the
participants contact details recorded. HSE and follow the advice provided to them
O Coaches should brief their students and/or on the next steps.
their parents of the protocols that should be
followed in advance of the session.
O Coaching can be provided to visitors only
with the permission of the club.
5 Return to Play Protocols for Republic of Ireland Version 1.2Tennis Ireland
10. Dealing with a Suspected Case
They should not attend the club and
IF A CLUB should self-isolate and contact their GP.
MEMBER HAS
COVID-19 The Club can continue as normal at this
SYMPTOMS stage.
The club member with symptoms must
inform their GP if they have taken part Both the club
IF A GP
IF A CLUB in club activity and seek advice on what member, their
ADVISES THERE
MEMBER IS SENT action, if any, the club is required to do. playing group or pod
IS NO COVID-19
FOR A TEST The club member should then contact and the club can
CONCERN
the club COVID Officer and outline to continue as normal.
them what has been recommended.
In line with Health advice, the club
The club members
member can return to activity 48
playing group or pod
IF A CLUB hours after the symptoms abate. IF A CLUB
must remain away from
MEMBER TESTS MEMBER TESTS
the club and await advice
NEGATIVE The club members playing group or POSITIVE
from the Public Health
pod can return to play.
Authority.
Dealing with a player showing symptoms at the Club
O Ideally the designated Covid-19 Officer O If they are too sick to go home or advice is
should take care of the management of any required, contact 999 or 112 and inform
persons with Covid-19 symptoms them that the sick person is a Covid-19
O Immediately separate any person displaying suspect.
or complaining of Covid-19 related O All persons who have been in close contact
symptoms from others with the suspect case will need to be
O Ask this person to wear a facemask if informed to restrict their movement until
possible further information is available. i.e., a
negative test result of the suspect case.
O Provide the unwell person with tissues and
hand sanitizer and ensure that all tissues are O No reusable medical equipment should be
disposed of in a waste bag. This waste bag returned to service without being cleaned/
then needs to be tied inside a second waste disinfected. Disposable PPE and any waste
bag and clearly marked. It will need to be should be disposed of appropriately, as
stored securely for 72 hours before it can be above.
disposed of in general waste. O Keep record of individuals who have been
O The designated person managing the isolated, due to suspected COVID-19 and
situation should try to maintain at least 2m notify the Lead COVID-19 Officer
from the person with the symptoms and O For other useful info, please check here
should wear a face mask and wash their https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/
hands regularly. close-contact-and-casual-contact.html
O If the person is well enough to go home,
arrange for them to be transported home
by a family member, as soon as possible and
advise them to inform their GP by phone of
the symptoms.
6 Return to Play Protocols for Republic of Ireland Version 1.2Tennis Ireland, DCU, Glasnevin, D9
Email: covid19@tennisireland.ie
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